Choosing A Car: A Mom’s Perspective

Sponsored post.  

In the past years, the automotive industry has seen a boom in the Philippines.   This is mostly thanks to the marketing strategies such as discounts and promos that some car brands offer.  But as a mom, I would say that one of the main reasons why families buy their own cars can be attributed to avoiding the perils of public transportation. 

Public transportation has always been quite a tricky issue in our country.  When you travel by public commute daily, you encounter a lot of stress.  Traffic can be one of them, but the highlight of public transport issue is the danger (such as theft, hold ups, etc.) one exposes oneself while traveling through public commute, especially in a third world country. 

As such, most families now buy their own car.  But how do we choose what car to buy?  There are a lot of factors you need to consider when buying a car.  As a mom, I’d like to share some to you.

PRICE.  Not all families can afford to pay a brand new car.  Some can only buy second hand one.  The price will always matter when buying and choosing the right car for your family.

FEATURES. Different car models have different car features.  One car may offer the features that you need, while others might not.  For families, the two most important considerations in features would be comfort and size.  Big families need more seating capacity.  But how do we get to know what car features the brand we like has?  We can get this through browsing online reviews.  Cars.com is a great website that offers various reviews.  These reviews come with videos and comparison to other brands as well.  This is very helpful in checking out the features of the car you are eyeing to buy.

AESTHETICS. How the car looks outside will always be a big consideration in buying the car you wanted.  No matter how big or small the car maybe, the aesthetics will always matter.

SAFETY. As a mom, safety features will always be the top priority in buying your own car.  I have made sure to emphasize safety as it is not just a part of a car feature for us, moms.  Safety will always be of primary importance for us.  So we need to put in a lot of research about the safety features of a car. 

These are just some of the factors moms consider when buying a car.  Hope this helps when buying your own car.

Press Release: Taxumo Launches It’s Worry-Free Online Tax Filling and Payment

According to the recent study by of World Bank entitled “Paying Taxes 2017”, it takes 186 hours to follow tax payments in the Philippines.  Solo proprietors, self-employed professionals, and free-lancers suffer the most as aside from running their businesses, they have to process sixteen (16) forms to Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) every year.

Now there’s a better way to file and pay taxes.  Taxumo, an online, DIY tax assistance platform for registered solo entrepreneurs, self-employed professionals, and freelancers.   Through Taxumo, they only need to put in their income and expenses, and the system immediately computes their tax dues.

Taxumo has a simple and easy-to-understand dashboard.  It helps reminds taxpayers when they need ot pay.  They no longer need to go to the BIR office or the bank to pay their tax dues.  Only a few clicks, and they can process everything without leaving their homes or offices.

Last July 20, Taxumo launched its accessible subscription plans.  The basic plan comes in two tiers: the Monthly and Annual Tier.  The Monthly Tier costs Php1,295/month; while the Annual Tier cost Php375/month billed as a one-time payment of Php4,495.  There’s also the annual Premium plan costing Php795/month, billed as one-time payment of Php9,495.

Check out the below rates for Taxumo’s new subscription plans.

Moms’ Fair at The Orchard Golf and Country Club

Mother’s Day has always been a special event for everyone, not just for moms.  I am a mother myself, but do take note that I have a mom too – as such I make sure that Mother’s Day every year should be celebrated for my mom.

The Orchard Golf and Country Club is a familiar place for us as this is where my little brother had his elementary graduation rites – but we haven’t really entered the place other than that as this is a membership club.  Good thing, they opened their doors to non-member guests last May 14 in an event called Mom Matters, a Mom Fair. 

Part of The Orchard Golf and Country Club.

So we decided to take advantage of their Mother’s Day brunch at The Orchard and join the Mom fair.  Brunch buffet cost Php675 per head and admission to Mom’s fair is free.  The events hall was divided into two: the brunch area and the mom’s fair area.  Upon entrance to the events hall, an event passport was given to all moms to complete and try all the sponsors of the Mom Matters fair.  It also acts as a raffle stub once completed.

All moms who entered the events hall were given a gift bag - which includes goodies from the sponsors.  It was a very thoughtful gesture from the event’s organizer.

We roam around the Mom’s fair first before having our brunch.  Several sponsors were there to introduce and re-introduce their products. 

My mom having her make over at Mary Kay area.

After completing our event passport, we had our brunch buffet.  The area was beautifully decorated with flowers and each table was neatly arranged.

Inside the events hall. 

The menu selections were mostly for lunch, actually.  Sumptuous food were offered at the buffet area.  Pasta and rice together with viands such as seafood, pork, chicken, and beef were served.  There are also roast beef and pork belly stations.  Salads and cold cuts were also available.  Filipino desserts were also present.  Drinks were included in the buffet.  

Cotton candy for the little boy. 

After filling our tummies with delicious food from the buffet, we went back to the fair as the program includes speakers from select sponsors.  Raffle prizes were given away and some sponsors treated mommies to pampering and beautification demos.  It was one event that mommies enjoyed.  My mom and my grandma both enjoyed it and I am one happy daughter as it was a Mother’s Day well spent. J

Three generations celebrating Mother’s Day together. J

Press Release: Clearscar, The Scar Solution In A Tube

Advances in technology have made it possible for scars to be removed with little to no trace.  However, all the best scar treatments available could be prohibitively expensive and would require a visit to a surgical clinic.

Good thing now there’s Clearscar Scar Gel!  Clearscar is a100% silicone that is clinically proven to improve the appearance of scars in as little as 8 weeks (2 months)!  It is effective in lightening, softening, and flattening the appearance of scars just by applying twice (2x) a day in the scar area.  It can be used in all type of scars caused by burns, cuts, surgeries, injuries, etc.  It works best on elevated scars such as Hypertrophic scars and keloids.  Hypertrophic scars are the red and raised scars usually caused by burns, surgeries, injuries, and wounds. 

Here are the common Q&A for Clearscar usage:

Can Clearscar be used in old scars?

Yes.  Clearscar can be used for old and new scars.

Can Clearscar be used for acne or stretchmarks?

Silicone used for Clearscar can help soften and flatten scars.  However, if the scar is depressed already, then the silicone may not work to treat the depressed scar.

Can Clearscar be used on the face?

Yes.  Clearscar is non-comedogenic which means it will not block pores so you can apply it to your face.

Do I use Clearscar immediately after getting a wound?

The wound needs to be completely closed (no raw areas and no scabs) for Clearscar to be applied.  To be safe, wait for 72 hours after getting the wound.

Can Clearscar be used for children?

Clearscar is safe for children’s use.

Can Clearscar be used on sensitive areas?

Clearscar is safe to be used on sensitive skin and sensitive areas of the body.

Can Clearscar be used by pregnant and breastfeeding women?

Clearscar is safe for pregnant and breastfeeding women.  It is made of silicone which is not get absorbed into the blood stream.  However, it is always best to consult your doctor prior to using any topical creams during pregnancy and lactation.

Clearscar is more affordable than other scar solutions in the market.  It is available in leading drugstores nationwide.  A 6gm tube costs Php418.95 while the 15gm tube costs Php761.20.

Office Gatherings Are Extra Special With Cheers Napkin

All full-time working moms would agree that working in the office is very challenging.  Other than the daily commute, the 8 to 9 hours office/field work can be very exhausting.  But what makes it really hard for working moms is the fact that you are away from your family for more than 10 hours of your day. 

Thank God for friends in the office that makes office life wonderful.  And what makes a great office bonding activity?  Gatherings!  And office gatherings are best with food.  And when there’s food – there’s got to be napkins!

A lot of you would think that napkin is only necessary in the kitchen or when you are going on a picnic.  Let me enumerate to you some ways on how napkins are also handy in the office – especially during get-togethers and gatherings.

There are a variety of napkins sold in the market, but there’s one brand that stands out among them: Cheers.  Cheers is a brand of quality hygienic napkins and paper towels that comes in various patterns and is perfect for gatherings and get-togethers.  Every Cheers napkin and paper towels are made of 100% Virgin Pulp and has no artificial whiteners and elemental chlorine.  It also comes with different print designs that are colorful and fun.

At the office, every employee considers napkin as part of their essential needs.  This is most especially during gatherings and get-togethers.  Cheers comes in handy for me and my office friends as it comes in variety of configurations.

Cheers Table Napkin size 200x200mm and Cheers folded Party Napkin are perfect for wiping our hands and table wares prior to eating.  These varieties are also very handy in wiping out our office tables once we are done with our gathering (our lunch).

Cheers Table Napkin size 200x100mm is just right for wiping our mouths smeared with food.   The size is perfect for wiping our faces once we are done eating.  Putting Cheers Table Napkin of this variation close to us while eating, makes it accessible for us to cover our faces/mouths when sneezing or when we get choked by foods.

Cheers Flat Table Napkin is just perfect for wrapping the sandwiches we bring for snacks.  It has the right size in wrapping a normal size bread and very good for sharing to my colleagues. 

Cheers Kitchen Towel provides a unique usage for me during office gathering, other than drying hands.  It acts as a make-do placemat so our office tables remain clean even after small gatherings.  

Cheers brand also comes with other get-together essentials such as starch-based cutlery and trash bags.   Not all offices allow you to wash your table wares, as not all offices have a pantry.  Cheers cutlery set of fork and spoons are the ideal partner of our office foods. 

At the end of every get-togethers and gatherings, we make sure to keep our office environment clean.  This is how Cheers Trash Bags helps us a lot.  It is biodegradable (which all trash bags should be) and comes with a tie for every bag so it’s easy to wrap. 

Now, that I’ve shared to you how napkins, particularly Cheers, can make office gatherings extra special, why don’t you go and buy Cheers Napkins and plan a small office gathering with your office friends.  You know, this will make your office life a little bit more enjoyable.

Disclaimer:  This is a sponsored post.  However, all opinions are mine.

Press Release: Sony Philippines Launches Bravia OLED A1 Series

Last July 4, Sony Philippines launches its new 4K High Dynamic Range of TV line-up called the Bravia OLED A1 Series at City of Dreams, Manila.  TV viewing will never be the same again as Sony Philippines new Bravia OLED A1 Series is a 4K High Dynamic Range (HDR) television series designed to provide exceptional brightness range and higher contrast.  The new Bravia TVs uses 4K HDR content with the combination of unique image processor and display device technologies.

The world of HDR has been greatly expanding with the advent of video streaming services, 4K UHD Blu-ray, and recently with Playstation 4 gaming.  Now more than ever before, accurate image processing is playing a crucial role in delivering a amazing picture according to the filmmaker’s or game developer’s intentions.

The Unveiling of Sony Bravia OLED TV.

To provide a wide selection of 4K HDR displays, Sony Philippines brings in the 4K HDR OLED TV as Bravia OLED in 65” and 55” Class Models.  The A1E series offers a totally new visual experience with a combination of superior quality picture of OLED, with its unique cutting edge design.

However, Bravia OLED’s innovations do not end with the incredible picture performance.  The A1E series is the world’s first large screen TV which can emit its sound from the screen itself.  Sony developed a new Acoustic Surface Technology which can emit sound directly from the screen.  This allows perfect unification of picture and sound that you will not get on normal TVs.

The Sony Bravia OLED A1E 65”.

Bravia OLED’s exceptionally wide viewing angle makes the A1E series the unmatched visual and aural experience for TV viewers.  The future of TV is Sony with the Bravia OLED, you will never look at TV the same way again. 

Color Manila Challenge Run 2017 at Greenfield City

Joining fun runs has always been a something my hubby and I love to do.  So when Color Manila invited us to join the Color Manila Challenge Run last June 25, we gladly took the challenge. 

Color Manila Challenge Run 2017 was held at Greenfield City, Sta Rosa Laguna.  It is an obstacle run.  This is one of the five different fun runs that Color Manila organizes.  The other four are the Classic Run, Glitter Run, Costume Run, and the Blacklight Run.  

It was our first time to attend a Color Manila run and it was also our first time to join an obstacle run.  We were at the venue at the stated assembly time which was 430AM.  We roam around the sponsor’s booths and joined the warm up exercises. 

There are three categories of the challenge run: 10K, 5K, and 3K.  The fee for the Color Manila run varies not on the category of the run you will join but on the inclusions of the race kit.  Ours included: a singlet, drawstring bag, head wear, sunglasses, and finisher’s medal.

We run the 5K race and encounter several obstacles.  At the start of the race, you will be showered with water – maybe to make sure that the color powder sticks to your clothes and skin.

There are different obstacles along the way and each one of them is colorful – meaning, you get to be thrown with color powder.    

Aside from the fact that this is an obstacle run, Color Manila Challenge gave us a very different experience.  Here is what I observed.

·         Color Manila is not a timed-run.  There are no prizes for the first people who will finish the race.  Meaning, it doesn’t matter if you finish first or last.  What matters is that you enjoy the run. 

·         Color Manila’s merchandises included in the race kit are of quality materials and very stylish.

·         Color Manila Challenge Run started quite late and doesn’t have soooo many runners, unlike some of the fun runs I attended.  Most of the fun runs I attended started their runs as early as 12AM or for some, 4AM.  However, this has the most runners who are enjoying so much. 

·         Since Color Manila Challenge Run was held at Greenfield City in Laguna, this run was not really tiring. It must be because Laguna’s air is so much fresher than that of Manila and so runners can still inhale clean air – and clean air doesn’t wear you down.

·         Color Manila Challenge Run has a very nice and intimate after run program.  There’s only one game – a dance showdown.  Every one enjoyed watching this.

·         No runner went home after finishing the race.  This is because the most exciting part of every Color Manila Runs is held at the end of the program.  This is where every runner present gets to enjoy being dirty and colorful.  Every runner gets to shower with color powder.  The more colorful you get home, the more fun you had.

Color Manila Challenge Run is by far the most fun Fun Run we ever joined.  We are sure to join next time and will be bringing our little boy with us – as we know he will enjoy this too.